Mr. Speaker, we continue to navigate our every changing circumstances as the pandemic continues around the world. And After a long winter, I am sure we are all looking for a summer of fresh air and outdoor activities. The Northwest Territories parks are ready for visitors. We have already received a record number of registrations from residents across the territory. In 2020, registrations from Northwest Territories residents booking overnight stays in territorial parks increased by 46 percent and already this year we are see a further increase of 15 on top of 2020's already impressive numbers.
Building off this momentum, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment has recently released of a new logo and branding for Northwest Territories parks. This new look will be reflected in all of the marketing and communication platforms for NWT parks, allowing us to position our parks locally, nationally, and globally, as premier wilderness destinations.
With that said, tourism remains one of the hardest hit industries globally. The NWT had been enjoying increases in visitors year over year and people now know, and want to experience what our unique and beautiful home has to offer. Many Northwest Territories' tourism businesses are adapting their company models to make sure they are ready when visitors return after travel restrictions are lifted. And We, as a territory, must support our tourism operators and businesses as best we can. As a government, we must provide the support to help keep them in business.
Mr. Speaker, last week was Tourism Week across the country. This year, to mark this national event, we developed a campaign that involved interviewing Northwest Territories residents who took advantage of the adventures and experiences available across our territory. They enthusiastically recounted their stories and shared their pictures. So many people across the Northwest Territories supported tourism operators and had, in their own words, some of their best travel experiences ever.
It is inspiring to see the resilience operators and businesses have demonstrated, and adapted to focus on opportunities for residents, while we wait for the pandemic to ease. The tourism industry has offered innovative packages tailored to all budgets and opened residents' eyes to the world-class experiences we have right here in our backyards. With every booking, we have shown operators how much we value their contribution to the economy. In return, they have given us a new appreciation that the Northwest Territories is truly spectacular.
Mr. Speaker, Tourism Week is only one way we continue to celebrate and support the tourism industry. Building on the momentum of past supports, like the digital boot camp training for operators to enhance their online profiles and in-market presence in partnership with Northwest Territories Tourism, as well as the Growth and Recovery by Investing in Tourism program, delivered through a funding collaboration with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Very soon, we hope to launch the newest support programs to bring relief to the tourism and accommodation industries; the Pandemic Relief Extension Program, or PREP, for licensed tourism operators, and the Supplement for Tourism Accommodation Relief, or STAR, for accommodation providers who have three or more rooms.
The federal government has been a critical partner throughout the year, and they are planning to continue supports through federal recovery programs. However, we know that the STAR and PREP programs are also going to be needed to continue supporting relief measures for these heavily impacted sectors.
Accommodation providers in the Northwest Territories have been particularly impacted by COVID-19. Average occupancy levels for hotels reporting from statistics dropped from 65 percent in 2019 down to 39 percent in 2020.
The STAR program will provide financial assistance for eligible expenses to accommodation providers in the Northwest Territories with three rooms or more and helps to continue the support for the sector that CanNor offered through their Northern Business Relief Fund.
Mr. Speaker, although there are positive signs for our tourism restart as the territorial and national vaccination programs gain momentum, the majority of tourism operators cannot maintain their businesses without some form of support. In the fall of 2020, 75 percent of tourism businesses had reported a decline in revenues of 50 percent or more.
The PREP will provide relief for eligible fixed costs to licensed tourism operators at a minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $100,000. While home-based tourism businesses were not eligible for the federal relief through the NBRF, they will be eligible for relief funding under the PREP.
Mr. Speaker, our tourism operators have demonstrated their resilience through their adaptation and refocus under never-before-seen conditions. When our travel restrictions ease, we are confident our tourism industry will rebound and continue to grow into one of the most robust areas of economic diversification in the Northwest Territories, supporting one of our primary mandates. We know that visitors are looking forward to returning, and we want to make sure our tourism industry is ready to welcome them with the unique experiences and opportunities that make our territory spectacular. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.